Considering buying a used 2008 Rogue SL

[Mithan]

I am considering buying a used 2008 Rogue SL, possibly this coming week. My second test drive is tomorrow and if I like it, I will probably progress to deal over it.

However, I have read about these transmission issues and it scares me a bit. The car has 65000km on it and the dealership (not a Nissan) is willing to sell me extra warranty to cover power train and everything else. Yes, I am aware of the fact that Nissan extended the warranty on the CVT to 200km but for all I know, somebody has put in alternate transmission lubricant, voiding the warranty if I ever was to run into issues. No I have no reason to know if this is the case and worrying about the CVT may prove to be pointless because the engine falls out or something


If I was to purchase it, would it be worth having the dealership (not the Nissan one) flush it and install the correct amount of the Nissan transmission fluid just to be on the safe side, even though it would cost me a bit more? Or just purchase an extra 3-4 years of warranty for $1000 or so and hope thats good enough?


Any thoughts?

[takeshi]

If I was to purchase it, would it be worth having the dealership (not the Nissan one) flush it and install the correct amount of the Nissan transmission fluid just to be on the safe side, even though it would cost me a bit more?

Worth is always subjective but it's never a bad idea to replace fluids (not just transmission but all fluids) on a used vehicle when the last fluid change is an unknown. You need to take whatever precautions work for you. As a 2008 SL owner I wouldn't worry about the CVT but I haven't had any problems with mine.

[darylzero]

I am considering buying a used 2008 Rogue SL, possibly this coming week. My second test drive is tomorrow and if I like it, I will probably progress to deal over it.

However, I have read about these transmission issues and it scares me a bit. The car has 65000km on it and the dealership (not a Nissan) is willing to sell me extra warranty to cover power train and everything else. Yes, I am aware of the fact that Nissan extended the warranty on the CVT to 200km but for all I know, somebody has put in alternate transmission lubricant, voiding the warranty if I ever was to run into issues. No I have no reason to know if this is the case and worrying about the CVT may prove to be pointless because the engine falls out or something


If I was to purchase it, would it be worth having the dealership (not the Nissan one) flush it and install the correct amount of the Nissan transmission fluid just to be on the safe side, even though it would cost me a bit more? Or just purchase an extra 3-4 years of warranty for $1000 or so and hope thats good enough?


Any thoughts?

I would guess that there is a 1% chance that the previous owener changed the trans oil with only 40,000 miles on the car. The premium maintance says to change at 30,000 and dealerships seem to be letting it go up to 60,000.
Look at the CVT fluid with the dipstick, brand new fluid has a greenish hue, as it gets older it will be darker, your of course will be darker, but that doesn't mean it gone bad. See if you notice any kind of smell

Also, you could get the trans oil tested here http://www.blackstone-labs.com/
Call them and see if they test the Nissan CVT fluid and can tell the difference (I assume they could). Also see if they have other Rogue results to test against.

Looks like someone with a Maxima posted their results https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B4z20Ar ... edit?pli=1

[ImStricken06]

lots of great advice here from everyone. i figured id just chime in because i bought a used 2008 Rogue SL(with leather) that had 28,000miles on it last January. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE MY CAR.

you have 120,000mile/10yr warranty on the transmission and 5year 60,000mile warranty on the engine and everything else associated with the power-train. spending $1,000 on a 3-4yr plan is kinda (in my opinion at least) foolish. read the fine print because many of those "plans" dictate who can and cant touch the car. all maintenance is to be performed at that specific dealer, etc. see if you can use the car's age (and it being closer to aging +1 yr in a few months) to save some more money from the purchase price and put that money aside for any repairs you might incur.


Regarding the fluids: its perfectly normal (and i actually applaud you to think that someone tampered with a used car) and i thought the same. i bought the car at 28,000miles, and drove it as is and within a week or so i hit 30,000miles and then i changed my differential fluid, transfer-case fluid, engine oil, engine air filter, cabin a/c filter, window wipers(front & rear), checked my brake pads, checked my tire psi - and i checked the CVT fluid visually.

what i want to be 100% honest about is that every car has its "issues". some cars like Jeep's have horrible transmissions. German cars have electrical problems. Range-Rovers have horrible air ride suspension struts that are 1,000/each, etc. Nissan makes an absolutely amazing product, but it does have its own small issues. the CVT is covered under warranty so that to me is a non-issue. the only other issues i can come up with in this rogue is the pesky TPMS(tire pressure monitor sensors) that fail just like on every car, and the center shift column shifter can get stuck. if you can live with the silly TPMS like i have now, then your ok. if you are willing to do the quick and easy fix i wrote up for the center column shifter = your set. other than that = i really dont read or see or experience any other common issues in these cars. from all the research i have done (unless im forgetting something) this car is amazingly trouble free- again, thanks to Nissan making an amazing product.